Soon after the lightweights posted a “Fight of the Night” award-winning performance at UFC 119 – one that saw the former champ earn a close split decision – Sherk (34-4-1 MMA, 8-4 UFC) wanted to turn the focus to Dunham (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC).

So in the night’s post-fight press conference at Indianapolis’ Conseco Fieldhouse, he made a bold prediction.

“I want to beat the best guys out there,” said Sherk, who earned the win via scores of 29-28 on two of the judges’ cards. “Evan’s certainly tough. Like I told him after the fight, I can see [him] being the UFC champion some day. I really can. He’s an up-and-comer, and he’s super tough.”

Sherk, of course, was fighting for the first time in 16 months. Slowed by injuries, he’s been scratched from multiple events, and the former title-holder saw the UFC’s lightweight division slowly passing him by.

Dunham, of course, is one the many prospects who helped that transition. The highly touted Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and noted striker cracked some worldwide top-10 lists for his division following wins over Per Eklund, Marcus Aurelio, Efrain Escudero and Tyson Griffin under the UFC banner.

But healthy for the first time in years, Sherk took a quick lead in the fight.

“I’ve been injured over the past couple years,” he said. “I’m not going to discuss the nature of my injuries, but I’ve had some serious injuries I’ve had to deal with, and I’ve fought injured. It took a toll in my training and my game plans coming into fights and things like that.

“I had to make a conscious effort to take some time off and let my body heal up, which I did. I got 100 percent healed up mentally and physically. I started my training camp completely fresh. It’s the first time I’ve done that in a long time. I was able to finish a training camp without getting injured.”

After his dominant first round, which included opening a deep gash above Dunahm’s eye that continually bothered the fighter, Sherk saw the momentum shift in the second. Unable to score frequent takedowns and with his submission game stifled, Sherk got a taste of Dunham’s dangerous height and reach.

Many of the nearly 16,000 fans in attendance thought Dunham’s late rally had won him the fight, and despite an entertaining scrap, the bout was showered in boos afterward.

Sherk admittedly was a bit surprised by the reaction.

“I was hitting him hard, and he was hitting me hard,” Sherk said while Dunham nodded his head in agreement. “He’s bleeding all over the place. It was pretty darn exciting if I was a fan. I would have had a good time.”

“I don’t know why they were booing me. … We left our hearts out there.”

UFC president Dana White agreed.

“It was a great fight,” he said. “It’s one of the best fights we’ve had in a long time.”

And that’s exactly what Sherk wanted. Despite his lengthy layoff, he wanted a tough matchup in his return fight. In fact, he wants nothing but tough fights from here on out. He also wants a title – but only if it means he first fights opponents similar to Dunham.

“It was a tough fight, and I knew it was going to be a tough fight,” he said. “I’m a competitor, and I like to step up to challenges. That’s what I’m here. I’m not just here to collect wins. I want to beat the best guys out there.”

For complete coverage of UFC 119, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of MMAjunkie.com.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.